TCA Press Tour: ABC’s ‘Shark Tank Week’ to make a September splash

The sharks have really taken over.

Taking a playful cue from Discovery’s favorite event-viewing “Shark Week,” ABC has announced it has commissioned “Shark Tank Week.”

The network will air a week’s worth of episodes of its hit business-skewed reality series “Shark Tank” in September. The strip of programming will consist of fan-favorite episodes from the past four seasons, not new episodes.

PHOTOS: TCA press tour: The Scene

“We love the idea of ‘Shark Tank week,’” said ABC president Paul Lee during the network’s portion at the Television Critics Assn. press tour in Beverly Hills. “We think it’s funny. [The show] has a huge, impassioned audience.”

The pitching and negotiating will begin Sunday, Sept. 8, and conclude on Friday, Sept. 13. (check local listings for times). It will all lead up to the Season 5 premiere of the Emmy-nominated series the following week, on Friday, Sept. 20, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

ABC’s inspired event week will pit it directly against NBC’s big event tryout, “The Million Second Quiz,” a 24/7 reality show that the network hopes will entice a hefty amount of live-viewing.

Lee acknowledged that watching shows in real time is important, but also talked up multiple platforms and non-live viewing.

“Shark Tank” has steadily proved itself to be a solid ratings force, regularly topping Friday nights among adults 18-49 and averaging about 7 million total viewers in Season 4.

Let’s hope this all doesn’t eventually lead to “SharkTanknado” -- the world just isn’t ready.

ALSO:

Seth Rogen will emcee James Franco roast

Kathy Bates rips NBC for canceling ‘Harry’s Law’

Ellen DeGeneres: Unexpectedly perfect for next year’s Oscars

Follow @villarrealy

PHOTOS, VIDEOS & MORE:

PHOTOS: Real places, fake characters: TV’s bars and eateries